IAF plane reaches Djibouti to bring back Indians

New Delhi, Apr 1: The government on Wednesday said that an Indian Air Force transport aircraft has reached Djibouti to bring back Indians who are on way to the African nation after they were evacuated from neighbouring strife-torn Yemen.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that that while an IAF C-17 Globemaster has reached Djibouti, another plane will reach there soon. [Two ships leaves Kochi to Djibouti Port to evacuate Indians]

"INS Sumitra to reach Djibouti with Indians evacuated from Yemen by mid-day. Arrangements in place to receive them there. 1st IAF C-17 Globemaster now in Djibouti. Another will reach soon," Akbaruddin said in tweets.

A total of 348 Indians were taken to INS Sumitra and it set sail for Djibouti on late Tuesday night from Aden. Those evacuated include 101 women and 28 children. [Nearly 350 Indian nationals evacuated]

Under an operation named "Op Raahat", two warships -- destroyer INS Mumbai and stealth frigate INS Tarkash -- are also on their way to Djibouti, a country neighbouring Yemen located on the Horn of Africa in the Gulf of Aden.

Fighting has been going on in Yemen since January 22, when the legitimate government under President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was ousted by Shiite Houthi forces. This has provoked the recent military campaign by a coalition of 10 countries lead by Saudi Arabia.

The air raids have left 83 people killed and about 350 others injured across the country. [Memories of Iraq conflict back to haunt nurses]

IANS